The Japanese announced their decision to withdraw from the tournament just a few days after the US won the US Open title. Apart from Osaka, the current tournament winner Ashley Barthy from Australia will not be seen in France and has already announced that she plans to take part in tournaments in her homeland this year.
“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to participate in the French Open this year,” Osaka’s post on Twitter and Instagram said. “I still feel pain in my thigh muscle, so I won’t have enough time to prepare for this tournament, which will take place in a relatively short time after the US Open.”
The French Open will take place this year on September 27, and the games are usually held on clay.
Earlier, the tournament organizers expressed hope that up to 11,500 spectators will be able to attend the game in person every day, but on Thursday this number had to be halved – the limit is 5,000 fans per day.
Osaka is the only Asian representative to hold three Grand Slam trophies.
The Japanese, who has never been able to beat the third round of the French Open, has yet to announce when he plans to return to the court. Osaka alone added that it would happen “sooner or later.”
The victory in the “US Open” allowed the tennis player to rise to the third position.
In 2017, the unexpected victory of the French Open was won by Alona Ostapenko, for whom it is the only Grand Slam title in her career so far.
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